Five Common Misconceptions About Asbestos

Most people know that asbestos is lethal. Most people know that when it is inhaled, it can cause painful diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. But decades of misinformation have helped give rise to many myths about asbestos that persist to this day–and helped conceal the fact that asbestos is more dangerous than many people realize.

MYTH: In small amounts, asbestos is harmless.

REALITY: According to the EPA, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. While the risk of side effects increases with the level of exposure, inhaling even a few fibers can be dangerous. Once lodged in a person’s lung tissue, the fibers can remain there indefinitely, and a small amount can still lead to adverse side effects and fatality resulting from asbestosis and mesothelioma.